Medical institutions that provide drug addicts with inappropriate prescriptions for narcotics and psychochemical substances could face fines of up to 100,000 yuan (US$12,500), the country's first drug control bill stipulates.

The draft anti-drug law, the first specifically designed to crack down on drug trafficking, is being debated at the August 22 to 27 session of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

The bill allows medical institutions to verify whether drug addicts coming for medical assistance have illegal drugs in their luggage and to take measures to protect them during rehabilitation.

Medical treatment to help drug addicts shake off their addiction should last for at least one month.

Drug addicts who leave medical institutions without approval should be immediately reported to local police and government authorities.

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2006)